Dunning Waived
Per Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Texas has placed righty Dane Dunning on outright waivers. Dunning will make $2.66 million this season, not a princely sum in itself but important in terms of Texasâ strong desire to avoid a third consecutive luxury tax. Iâm not optimistic about a pure claim, even though he has an option, but perhaps the Rangers can finesse a trade that saves a portion of his salary. My understanding, per Article VI. E. (3)*, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, is that Dunning is due his full salary because he and the Rangers reached an agreement prior to an arbitration hearing. Also, for tax purposes, per XXIII. C. (2) (b) (iii) (f), âAny Uniform Playerâs Contract that is assigned outright to a Minor League club shall be included in the Clubâs Actual Club Payroll.â
Dunning has been held in disfavor for a while, getting optioned late last season, accepting a maximum 20% pay cur last fall, and facing a third and final optional assignment this spring. I assumed he would claim a long spot with even a barely passable performance, but since back-to-back two-inning scoreless appearances heâs been bombed, giving up 20 runners and ten runs in seven innings. The underlying Statcast data isnât as alarming but certainly doesnât acquit him. Three of his four homers allowed were no-doubters by my accounting, and much of the contact was squared.
Still, I didnât see this coming this soon. I was considering DFA possibilities just last night, as one does. Texas has several recently optioned pitchers (three come to mind) who lack Dunningâs prior MLB success and will have to improve in AAA to have a chance at getting back to Arlington outside an emergency. What about IF Jonathan Ornelas (although I like him and think he still has a chance), or even IF Justin Foscue (a former first-rounder but struggling this spring and buried on the depth chart)? No, Texas chose Dunning. (Note that technically, Dunning has not been designated yet, just waived.)
In 2023, a noteworthy year for the organization as you might recall, Dunning led the Rangers in innings and ranked second among pitchers in wins above replacement.
Surprise, Wednesday and Thursday
Above-slot 11th-rounder Dalton Pence gave me a better look on Wednesday than the previous Sunday. The fastball gained a tick to a steady 93, and his induced vertical break often exceeded 20 inches, which is elite. It hummed over several bats and completed at least two strikeouts.
Righty Leandro Lopez pitched to form: exciting and erratic. He would run multiple fastballs (95-96) and curves (low 80s) far too high, then induce a pitiful swing on something perfectly placed. I also saw a couple of high-80s changes. 23 in June and eligible for the Rule 5 draft if unprotected, Lopez has tempted for some time but has to display better control to separate from the pack.
Righty Josh Mollerus, acquired for DFAed reliever Yerry Rodriguez last summer, had an ugly season at high-A Hickory: 5.40 ERA with a .256/.359/.522 opposing line including six homers in 23 innings. He has the ingredients for better, at least from what I saw Thursday: a 92-93 four-seamer with impressive vertical and horizontal movement, a mid-80s slider, a cutter, and a change. Some of the sliders were sharp; some were served on a platter.
24-year-old righty Victor Simeon, around since 2019, mixed a mid-90s four and two-seamer, mid-80s slider and change. When he caught my eye last March, I believe I only saw a four and slider. He was effective if walk-prone at low-A Down East and at the very end of the season reached high-A, where I expect heâll return.
I got my first look at 22-year-old Jesus Mosquera, about whom I knew nothing entering the day. Looking him up afterwards, I found someone who hadnât thrown in a real game since 2022 and with beyond-calamitous results: four innings, nine hits, 24 walks and four hit batters in the Dominican League. He did walk a batter in two innings but generally showed no worse control than the average low-level pitcher youâd run across in March. He offered a 94 fastball and 83-87 slider which was erratic but missed several bats.
21-year-old righty Jormy Nivar is the anti-Mosquera on paper: healthy in 2023-2024 and with 18 walks and 80 strikeouts in 76 DSL innings. A skinny 6â3â, Nivar cleanly delivered a 92-93 sinker with substantial horizontal movement, a mid-80s slider, and an upper-80s change. Iâd guess both Nivar and Mosquera will await the start of rookie ball, although I suppose the they have a shot at low-A.
I watched a little of 2023 17th-round righty Kamdyn Perry from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas (former home of Joey Gallo, among others). The inning I saw was ultimately rolled (cut short of three outs), but he offered horizontal movement in the high teens on both his sinker (91-93) and sweeper (76-79). Perry reach low-A late last season
As for the hitters, hereâs video of Sebastian Walcott collecting two hits.
IF Yolfran Castillo unexpectedly played in Thursdayâs AAA game and carried himself well, exhibiting a patient approach, reaching safely on a walk and firm single and stealing a bag. A young 18, he should be headed to low-A Hickory.
Among those I saw frequently, 2024 seventh-round 3B Rafe Perich continued to impress, again giving me tedious video of bad pitch after bad pitch ignored for a ball. The downside is we probably wonât really know much about him until he reaches AA and faces pitchers with more consistent control. He did exhibit some impressive line-drive swings, so I donât want to suggest heâs nothing but eye.
The best power I saw during the last two days came from 19-year-old Dominican Kleimir Lemos, who played all over the infield last year but looks like a corner to me. He smacked a high pitch that didnât need Arizonaâs atmosphere to leave the grounds, and by raising up to meet the ball square, he didnât seem to have any lower body contributing to that blast. He later doubled solidly. Last year, Lemos reached America after tearing up the DSL for a little while. In the complex league he struck out 20 times against zero walks in 78 trips to the plate. So⊠thereâs that, but he can drive the ball!
Transactions
The Rangers released RHP Jesse Chavez, who arguably held an advantage over numerous non-roster competitors for a bullpen spot in Arlington, but even he had to earn it and could not. As required by the CBA, the Braves immediately signed him to a minor deal.
Texas signed reliever Hunter Strickland on the 15th, released him Friday, and re-signed him yesterday.
The Rangers released OF Nick Ahmed.
Elsewhere
Rule 5 pick Liam Hicks will make the Marlins. The former Texas catcher was part of last yearâs trade with Detroit for catcher Carson Kelly. The Tigers left him unprotected (Texas would have as well, I believe), and Miami nabbed him second overall. Hicks batted to form this spring, .222/.417/.259 with more walks than strikeouts.
Out-of-options ex-Ranger Sam Huff and NRI Max Stassi are fighting for the SF #2 catcher job into the waning moments.
* âNotwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IX, a tendered arbitration eligible Player (as defined in paragraph (1) above and confirmed by the Parties pursuant to paragraph (2) above) who reaches a confirmed agreement with his Club on salary for the following season prior to the matter being heard by the arbitration panel shall be eligible for in-season termination pay as set forth in Article IX(C) (i.e., in the full amount of the agreed upon paragraph 2 salary for the upcoming season) in the event the Playerâs contract is terminated by his Club under paragraph 7(b)(2) of the Uniform Playerâs Contract for failure to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability prior to Opening Day.â
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